Boats vs Cars

Is there a true difference in the products you would use on a boat and the products that you would use on a car? I have friends with pretty expensive boats that say using car products will not hurt the gelcoat. The only thing they say is not to put actual carnuba wax on a boat. ( it will fade the gelcoat)?

That bit about Carnauba wax fading gelcoat doesn't pass the laugh test. Whoever started that rumor probably sold polymer sealants for a living.
Brian Angellucci, who sells a CD Rom on boat detailing, says gelcoat may require more aggressive compounds to restore its lustre.
Most car stuff is okay for boats but I'll bet Brian's CD will list products that are especially good for marine use. You may wish to search his past posts on this forum and check his web site for info on buying the CD.
Doug

" A boat is a hole in the water into which you shovel money. "

where carnauba fads gelcoat comes from is it does not last on gelcoat and the UV protection is than gone! here is some infro. that will help you understand

Carnauba wax Vs gel coat sealant,
which is better?
No one debates the need to seal and protect gel coat finishes but there is disagreement over how best to do it. Many "old salts" will only use a natural carnauba wax but boat manufacturers are increasingly recommending only gel coat sealant. There are a number of valid reasons for this. While carnauba waxes may be fine for fresh water, sailboats, their durability is very limited in salt water, especially on powerboats. Combining the corrosive effects of salt water and the abrasion caused by the hull cutting through the water limits carnauba wax durability to 60 days or less. Above the waterline is not much better. Carnauba waxes start to melt around 150 degrees f. Direct and reflected UV and thermal radiation is literally melting the wax off the finish.
Synthetic sealant on the other hand, have better bonding characteristics than carnauba waxes, better abrasion resistance and melting points in the thousands of degrees. Synthetic sealant will outlast carnauba waxes and will typically produce a brighter shine. Sealant should last 180 days, even in salt water.
So why the debate? In the early days of recreational boating, enthusiasts often applied over-the-counter, automotive sealant to their boat's gel coat. Many of these sealant contained strong petroleum solvents and/or coarse abrasives which actually accelerated gel coat oxidation. These enthusiasts were applying a "protective" sealant to their boat only to have it quickly turn a dull, chalky white. No wonder sealant got a bad image among early boaters!

Rule No. 1: Don't use automotive sealant or polishes on gel coat finishes. There are exceptions but if the manufacturer doesn't specifically recommend their product for gel coats, don't us it! Use only polishes and sealant that are designed for gel coats.
Another problem shared by both carnauba waxes and automotive sealant has to do with the very nature of gel coats. Gel coat is porous. Seen under a microscope, your boat's flat, smooth gel coat surface is millions of tiny holes! These holes, or pores, fill with microscopic grime; marine scum and salt crystals, which promote gel coat oxidation. Think of this oxidation as "plastic rust". The contamination in the pores is eating away the gel coat from the inside, filling the pores with a dull, chalk. As the chalk fills more and more pores, the entire gel coat surface will take on a dull, whitish finish. Carnauba waxes and automotive sealant do not remove pre-existing micro-contamination in the pores. Worse, they seal the contamination in place where it continues to oxidize from the inside, under the protective wax.

Rule No. 2: Select a gel coat sealant that has some kind of micro-fine, cleaning or polishing agent (not a coarse abrasive) to remove existing contamination in the pores. Removing this debris and then sealing the surface with a gel coat sealant will greatly retard the oxidation process and add years to the life of your boat's finish.

Rule No. 3: Always consult a Professional Boat Detailer if you’re in doubt about the type of soaps, cleaners, or sealant to use on your Boat

New gel coats and just-polished gel coats should be protected with either a synthetic polymer wax or a gel coat/Fiberglass sealant. Both offer greater protection and extended durability because they seal the pores from air (ozone) better than a store bought carnauba wax, as carnauba does not last on gel coat. If you use a store bought wax, you should plan on waxing your boat 6 times a year. If using a professional synthetic polymer wax or gel coat/Fiberglas sealant, plan on applying a protective coating twice a year

You need to ask the product manufacturers whether or not there is a difference in the products they make for boats and the products they make for cars. That is the only sure way to understand if there is a true difference in products.

Also, your friends are absolutely right. Contrary to popular belief, using carnauba wax on boats will usually help to accelerate the oxidation process, thus causing the gelcoat to begin to fade prematurely. This is especially true with regard to boats that are exposed to the UV rays of the sun. Polymer sealants appear to offer better protection against this condition and they would be the product of choice over carnauba wax.

In summary, when it comes to taking care of the appearance of your boat, you would be smart to only use boat products that have been specifically developed for use on fiberglass gelcoats.

Please visit my website for more information.

Boat Detailing Guide
[mysite.verizon.net]

Boat Detailing Course
[mysite.verizon.net]

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thanks for all the information, it's all appreciated..

Very little difference in reality.

It is more in the packaging and the usage instructions.

We private label for a couple of "boat brands", our standard automotive products, just a different, "marine" oriented label and instructions.

I played around this past weekend, helping a buddy out and testing some processes.

18 foot, white open bass boat, 9 years old, had not been cleaned in 5 years!

The floor was yellow and staind with clay, the hull was scum stained, and scratched, the white seats were gray, etc, the motor, a 110 Mercury was faded and discolored.

In two hours, with my directing two guys who don't know a buffer from a tooth pick or one chemical and process from another, the boat was done.

People who saw it later in the day and know the boat, didn't believe it was the same boat! Let alone the owner.

We used all ValuGard automotive products.

Ketch

Thought we'd revisit this post.

Thank you for the recognition, Doug. You are right when I mention that gelcoats do require a more aggressive form of compound if the surface has been neglected for some time. Gelcoats are more forgiving than clears. My manual does list a wide variety of products to use.

Automotive products can be used in boat detailing. I do use automotive products for some situations but more of a marine line for the gelcoat, stainless steel and windows. The cleaners and degreasers are mostly automotive but the protective products are strictly marine. Scum stains, in my experience, requires an hydrochloric acid product. Regular degreasers MAY work but much more labor and time is needed.

Take care,

Brian
Precision Auto & Marine

Learn to detail boats! Visit www.detailtheboat.com